Attachment for working machine

Abstract

A pipe handling attachment for a working machine is configured to support a pipe and includes a mounting component configured to couple the pipe handling attachment to the working machine. A boom includes a first support arrangement for supporting a first portion of the pipe, and a second support arrangement, spaced apart from the first support arrangement, for supporting a second portion of the pipe. A distance between the first support arrangement and the second support arrangement is variable, and including adjusting mechanism configured to adjust the distance between the first support arrangement and the second support arrangement. The adjusting mechanism is configured to be operated manually.

1 . A pipe handling attachment for a working machine, the pipe handling attachment configured to support a pipe and comprising:
 a. a mounting component configured to couple the pipe handling attachment to a working machine;   b. a boom having a first support arrangement for supporting a first portion of a pipe, and a second support arrangement, spaced apart from the first support arrangement, for supporting a second portion of said pipe, wherein a distance between the first support arrangement and the second support arrangement is variable; and   c. an adjusting mechanism, configured to adjust the distance between the first support arrangement and the second support arrangement, and wherein the adjusting mechanism is configured to be operated manually.   
     
     
         2 . The pipe handling attachment according to  claim 1 , wherein the attachment means is configured such that, when in use, a longitudinal axis of the boom is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of a pipe supported by the pipe handling attachment. 
     
     
         3 . The pipe handling attachment according to  claim 1 , wherein the first support arrangement is provided at a first end of the boom and the second support arrangement is provided at a second end of the boom, distal the first end. 
     
     
         4 . The pipe handling attachment according to  claim 1 , wherein the boom is a telescopic boom comprising an outer stationary arm and a first inner moving arm configured to extend from a first end of the boom, and arranged such that the distance between the first support arrangement and the second support arrangement is varied by extending and/or retracting the telescopic boom. 
     
     
         5 . The pipe handling attachment according to  claim 4 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a first pulley arrangement having a pulley wheel and a rope, cable, belt and/or chain. 
     
     
         6 . The pipe handling attachment according to  claim 5 , wherein the first inner moving arm and the outer stationary arm are coupled via the first pulley arrangement, wherein the first pulley arrangement is configured such that rotation of the pulley wheel causes relative movement of the first inner moving arm and outer stationary arm. 
     
     
         7 . The pipe handling attachment according to  claim 6 , wherein the pulley wheel is mounted on the outer stationary arm or the first inner moving arm and is configured to be rotated manually about a shaft, and the rope, cable, belt and/or chain is coupled to the other of the outer stationary arm and the first inner moving arm, such that rotation of the pulley wheel causes movement of the fist inner moving arm in a linear direction. 
     
     
         8 . The pipe handling attachment according to  claim 5 , wherein the pulley wheel is a first pulley wheel, and the first pulley arrangement comprises a second pulley wheel, wherein both the first and second pulley wheels are mounted on the outer stationary arm or the first inner moving arm, the first pulley wheel and the second pulley wheel each being configured for rotation about a respective shaft, such that rotation of the first pulley wheel and/or second pulley wheel (e.g. in a first angular direction) causes movement of the first inner moving arm in a first linear direction and/or rotation of the first pulley wheel and/or second pulley wheel (e.g.in a second angular direction) causes movement of the inner moving arm in a second linear direction. 
     
     
         9 . The pipe handling attachment according to  claim 8 , wherein the first pulley wheel and/or second pulley wheel is configured to be rotated manually. 
     
     
         10 . The pipe handling attachment according to  claim 4 , wherein the boom comprises a second inner moving arm configured to extend from a second end of the boom, such that the boom is configured to extend and/or retract at both the first and second ends. 
     
     
         11 . The pipe handling attachment according to  claim 10 , wherein the second inner moving arm and the outer stationary arm are coupled via a second pulley arrangement wherein the second pulley arrangement is configured to cause relative movement of the second inner moving arm and outer stationary arm, optionally, wherein the second pulley arrangement is substantially the same as the first pulley arrangement. 
     
     
         12 . The pipe handling attachment according to  claim 10 , wherein the first inner moving arm and the second inner moving arm are arranged to extend and/or retract in unison. 
     
     
         13 . The pipe handling attachment according to  claim 10 , wherein the first pulley attachment comprises a third pulley wheel coupled to the first and second pulley wheels respectively, such that rotation of the first pulley wheel in the first angular direction causes rotation of the second pulley wheel in the first angular direction, and/or rotation of the first pulley wheel in the second angular direction causes rotation of the second pulley wheel in the second angular direction. 
     
     
         14 . The pipe handling attachment according to  claim 13 , wherein rotation of the first and/or second pulley wheel in a first angular direction causes movement of the first inner moving arm in a first linear direction and rotation of the first and/or second pulley wheel in a second angular direction causes movement of the inner moving arm in a second linear direction. 
     
     
         15 . The pipe handling attachment according to  claim 14 , wherein the second inner moving arm is coupled to the third pulley (e.g. via a rack and pinion arrangement), such that rotation of the first and/or second pulley wheel in the first angular direction causes movement of the second inner moving arm in the second linear direction, and/or rotation of the first and/or second pulley wheel in the second angular direction causes movement of the second inner moving arm in the first linear direction. 
     
     
         16 . The pipe handling attachment according to  claim 10 , wherein the first support arrangement is provided at a free end of the first inner moving arm and the second support arrangement is provided at a free end of the second inner moving arm; optionally, wherein the first support arrangement and second support arrangement each comprise a support projection configured to engage an interior wall of a pipe supported by the pipe handling attachment, wherein at least one of the support projections is pivotally mounted on the boom and configured for manual rotation. 
     
     
         17 . The pipe handling arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the pipe handling attachment comprises a locking arrangement configured such that, when in a locked state, the locking arrangement inhibits or prevents adjustment of the distance between the first support arrangement and the second support arrangement. 
     
     
         18 . The pipe handling attachment according to  claim 1 , wherein the first support arrangement and the second support arrangement comprise a first support structure, and wherein the pipe handling attachment further comprises a second support structure configured to support said pipe at a third portion of said pipe, and optionally at a fourth portion of said pipe; optionally, where in the second support structure comprises a third support arrangement for supporting the third portion of said pipe, optionally wherein the secondary support structure also comprises a fourth support arrangement for supporting the fourth portion of said pipe, wherein the third support arrangement, and optionally the fourth support arrangement, are located between the first and second support arrangements; optionally, wherein the second support structure comprises a fourth support arrangement, wherein the adjusting mechanism is a first adjusting mechanism, and wherein the pipe handling attachment comprises a second adjusting mechanism configured to adjust a distance between the third support arrangement and the fourth support arrangement, and wherein the second adjusting mechanism is configured to be operated manually; optionally, where the boom is a first boom and wherein the second support structure comprises a second boom, wherein the second boom is a telescopic boom configured such that the distance between the third support arrangement and fourth support arrangement is variable by extension and/or retraction of the second telescopic boom; optionally, where in the third support arrangement comprises a rope, cable, belt and/or chain for supporting said pipe at said third portion, optionally wherein the second support structure comprises a fourth support arrangement and wherein the fourth support arrangement comprises a belt for supporting said pipe at said fourth portion. 
     
     
         19 . A pipe handling attachment according to  claim 1 , wherein the pipe handling attachment defines a longitudinal axis along which the first support arrangement and the second support arrangement are provided, wherein the mounting arrangement is configured to permit rotation of the pipe handling attachment about a second axis substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis; optionally, wherein the pipe handling attachment defines a longitudinal axis along which the first support arrangement and the second support arrangement are provided, wherein the mounting arrangement is configured to permit rotation of the pipe handling attachment about a third axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and the second axis. 
     
     
         20 . A pipe handling attachment according to  claim 1 , in combination with a working machine.